Page:The Forest Sanctuary.pdf/45

And thou indeed hadst perish'd, my soul's friend!
I might form other ties—but thou alone
Couldst with a glance the veil of dimness rend,
By other years o'er boyhood's memory thrown!
Others might aid me onward:—Thou and I
Had mingled the fresh thoughts that early die,
Once flowering—never more!—And thou wert gone!
Who could give back my youth, my spirit free,

And yet I wept thee not, thou true and brave!
I could not weep!—there gather'd round thy name
Too deep a passion!—thou denied a grave!
Thou, with the blight flung on thy soldier's fame!
Had I not known thy heart from childhood's time?
Thy heart of hearts?—and couldst thou die for crime?
—No! had all earth decreed that death of shame,
I would have set, against all earth's decree,